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DECAL is a statewide agency but we realize the real work in promoting early childhood education and working with children and their families takes place at a grass roots level in cities and towns across the state.  That’s why earlier this year we launched our Early Education Community Partnership initiative and named community coordinators in each of our six regions.  Our special guests in studio are Jill O’Meara, Early Education Community Partnership Manager, and Clayton Adams, Lead Community Coordinator in our Athens and Northeast Region, with field reports from all of our coordinators. 

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Since 1993, Georgia has had a nationally recognized Pre-K Program funded by the Georgia Lottery that prepares four year olds for success in Kindergarten.  Children four years of age on September 1 of the current school year who are Georgia residents are eligible to attend Georgia's Pre-K Program.  This year, we have over 81,000 students enrolled in over 3,800 classrooms around the state…both public schools and private child care centers.  Here to talk about our ongoing inspections of Georgia’s Pre-K Program classes is Judy Blasingame, Quality Support Coordinator, and Devon Porter, Pre-K consultant.

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School will be out soon and Georgia children will be participating in summer camps, church camps, cheer camps, and other traditional activities.  DECAL and Quality Care for Children are again collaborating to help parents ensure the camps they have chosen are safe places for children to play and learn.  On this episode, we talk with Pam Tatum, CEO at Quality Care for Children, and Pam Stevens, DECAL's Deputy Commissioner for Child Care Services. 

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Building on the success of Quality Rated and several of Georgia’s early learning programs, Governor Brian Kemp and DECAL have announced the creation of a language and literacy endorsement.  We know that early learning provides a strong foundation for the development of children’s reading skills and this endorsement will only strengthen that foundation.

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You can’t tell the story of Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program without quickly coming across the name Zell Miller.  After all, it was Governor Miller who in 1990 proposed the creation of the Georgia Lottery for Education…and that the lottery would support a new preschool program and college scholarship.  In 1992, the referendum passed and a pilot program brought 750 at-risk four-year-olds to 20 sites across Georgia.  Today Georgia’s Pre-K Program serves over 83,000 four year olds and is clearly part of Governor Miller’s legacy.

Joining us to talk about his grandfather and the foundation that celebrates Governor Miller’s leadership and legacy is Bryan Miller, Executive Chairman of the Zell Miller Foundation.

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DECAL licenses and monitors around 4,600 child care programs in Georgia to ensure that they provide safe, healthy, and nurturing environments. On average, our Child Care Services consultants make 12,000 unannounced annual visits…a minimum of two per provider each year…to inspect and support licensed child care programs.  Today, we will take you on a "walk through" of one of these inspections.  Our guests are Northwest Regional Manager for Child Care Services Marsha Ruiz Crosby and Director of Research Randy Hudgins.

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There have been some recent changes in our System Reform Division, the home of Quality Rated.  Former Deputy Commissioner for System Reform Kristin Bernhard accepted a position with The Ounce of Prevention Fund in Chicago.  Former DECAL Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Dr. Bentley Ponder, will follow Kristin in this important role.  Learn more about Bentley and his 14 years working here at DECAL.  

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Each summer here in Georgia, eligible organizations help DECAL and the US Department of Agriculture serve healthy meals to children when school is not in session.  Our Summer Food Service Program reimburses these organizations for the cost of providing free meals and again this year we are looking for sponsors.  Our guests are Sonja Adams, Nutritional Services Director of Provider Services, and Cindy Kicklighter, Nutrition Marketing and Outreach Manager. 

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It’s never too early to be thinking about your child’s college education...even if your child is in Georgia’s Pre-K Program.  That’s the idea behind the Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes, happening March 15 to April 30 and sponsored by DECAL and the Path2College 529 Plan.  Our special guest is Mitch Seabaugh, Executive Director of the Path2College 529 Plan.  

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Here at DECAL, we’re committed to ensuring that Georgia's youngest citizens receive high quality services to prepare them for school and for life. To help meet this commitment, we’ve developed the Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) where early childhood educators can create and maintain a profile and search and register for the latest training.  Recently GaPDS was upgraded to Phase 2 making it better than ever!

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